World Recognized Medical Journal Reports on Clinical Trial Validating the At-Home Food Intolerance Test Provided by York Nutritional Laboratories as a Treatment for IBS.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

HOLLYWOOD, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 17, 2004

Six of the contributing editors for Reviews in Gastroenterological Disorders attended the 2003 Digestive Disease Week (DDW) meetings and reported on noteworthy presentations in their areas of expertise (Rev Gastroenterol Disord. 2003; 3(3): 158-179).

One of the studies reviewed evaluated a different treatment modality - food elimination diets in IBS, which was presented at the plenary session by a research team from the University Hospital of South Manchester. According to the review, "...the results of this study could change current management of IBS."

The University Hospital of South Manchester researchers conducted an independent, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. The study consisted of 150 outpatients with all bowel habit subtypes of IBS and randomized them to either a diet excluding all foods to which they had measurable IgG antibody titers, as reported by the IgG ELISA food intolerance screening known as the foodSCAN, or, alternatively, a placebo diet. In the placebo diet, the same number of foods were excluded but not those to which the patients were reported allergic, based on elevated IgG antibody titers.

The results of this study proved to be extremely interesting. Patients on the diet in which foods that had positive IgG antibody titers were excluded did significantly better than patients on the placebo diet. Global symptoms, as well as symptom severity scores, improved. Simply put, the health of patients following the correct diet improved dramatically, while the health of patients on the placebo diet did not. Additionally, patients with both diarrhea- and constipation- predominant IBS appeared to respond similarly.

According to Dr. P.J. Whorwell, Gastroenterologist, University Hospital of South Manchester, "This is the first time a commercially available blood test for food intolerance has been subjected to scientific scrutiny in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. In a controlled trial, patients eliminating foods to which they had antibodies as determined by Yorktest Laboratories experienced a significant improvement in their symptoms, providing evidence that this approach may be very valuable in treating this condition."

Reviews in Gastroenterological Disorders went on to report, "...if these results are confirmed, they have the potential to change practice because, arguably, this approach should be cheaper and may be more effective than most other current therapies available."

BACKGROUND NOTES:

(1) Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) has been reported to affect at least 15% the population. In fact, it is so common that surveys reveal about half of the people attending hospital out-patient departments with digestive problems are suffering from IBS. Symptoms can include: abdominal pain and spasm, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, flatulence, incontinence, nausea, belching and vomiting. Secondary symptoms include panic attacks, anxiety and depression.

(2) For over 20 years York Nutritional Laboratories (YNL) has been a leading pioneer in the arena of food allergy testing and has carried out tens of thousands of tests for patients throughout the world.

(3) YNL came to international attention with its development of the foodSCAN; a simple kit that provides a convenient method to test for IgG-mediated food allergy. A tiny "pin-prick" sample of blood is taken by using this unique kit, which is then sent to the laboratory for analysis. The established Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique is used to identify an individual's IgG antibody reactions against 113 different, and commonly eaten, foods.

(4) YNL introduced North America to its 93-food foodSCAN IgG ELISA Food Intolerance Test in December 2000. In June 2001 YNL increased the number of foods tested for IgG-mediated food allergy from 93 to 113 - without any increase in the patient cost.

(5) In August 2002 YNL launched the cdSCAN, a finger-stick IgA Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) Autoantibody Assay for the screening of Celiac Disease.

(6) In December 2003 YNL made available the hpSCAN Helicobacter Pylori (H.pylori) Digestive Disorder Kit, which is a rapid test that provides results within 10 minutes.

(7) A panel of physicians and medical professionals assembled by The Wall Street Journal reviewed 18 companies and their "at-home" test kits, including York Nutritional Laboratories and its foodSCAN IgG ELISA Food Intolerance Test. This panel reported very favorably on York Nutritional Laboratories and its food intolerance screening services. "York Nutritional Laboratories; Uses the well-regarded ELISA test." - The Wall Street Journal, Friday, October 26, 2001

(8) The August/September 2002 issue of the prestigious medical journal, The Townsend Letter For Doctors, published the British Allergy Foundation's (BAF) audit, which the BAF commissioned the Department of Health Studies at York University to oversee. This study involved over 1700 patients and validated the foodSCAN IgG ELISA Food Intolerance Test as a treatment for IBS, eczema and migraines.

For further information about food intolerance and its relationship with IBS, or to receive a copy of the Reviews in Gastroenterological Disorders' review article, contact John Kernohan: Toll Free [phone], Fax [phone], [e-mail] or http://www.yorkallergyusa.com.